Apparatus for cleaning ninepins and bowling pins

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cleaning ninepins and bowling pins is provided. The apparatus includes a drum-like container that rotates about its longitudinal axis, and that is provided with at least one brush that is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the container. The bristles of the brushes extend perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the container. The container has at least the length of the pin that is to be cleaned, is closed at the bottom, and can, additionally, be filled with cleaning fluid. The length of the bristles of the brush or brushes is adapted to the contour of the pin that is to be cleaned and that does not rotate along with the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning pins for use in ninepins or bowling, with the apparatus being provided with one or more brushes.

[0002] For cleaning ninepins or bowling pins, apparatus are used that have fixed brushes against which the pins are wiped, whereby in addition, water, polishing agent and the like can be utilized. In this connection, a plurality of brushes can be arranged in an arc or in an angle, so that the bristles contact a large portion of the surface of the pin and the pin can be effectively pressed against the apparatus. In such an apparatus, the head and base portions of the pin are clamped in and the pin is rotated only about its longitudinal axis, for example with engine power.

[0003] During the course of time, scratches and grooves are formed on the pins due to play, transport and the like, with such scratches and grooves taking up the dust and some of the oil with which the ninepin and bowling lanes are customarily treated, and which therefore become visible as ugly, dark streaks. Such scratches and grooves are caused, for example, when the pins strike one another, or, primarily in the head and neck regions of the pin, by the apparatus used to set the pins. The scratches and grooves primarily extend in the circumferential direction of the pin.

[0004] Unfortunately, with the movements carried out in the longitudinal direction of the pin for cleaning purposes, it is very difficult to remove the dirt from grooves that extend in the circumferential direction. To rotate the pin on the cleaning apparatus manually about its longitudinal axis is, however, very laborious and permits no forceful movements. In addition, the narrow neck region of the pin is generally only inadequately grasped by the brush.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus of the aforementioned general type with which the cleaning of the pins is more effective and thorough, and at the same time can be realized more rapidly and easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] This object, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through one exemplary embodiment of an inventive cleaning apparatus; and

[0008]FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The objective of the present invention is realized by a drive means for producing a relative movement between the pin and the brush or brushes in the circumferential direction of the pin. For the rotational movement, which is difficult to carry out manually, an external drive is provided that can be effected, for example, by an electric motor. The back and forth movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis can, in contrast, continue to be carried out manually.

[0010] Pursuant to one advantageous specific embodiment of the present invention, the brushes rotate about the pin, which does not rotate. In this connection, the apparatus advantageously has an angular velocity of 50-200 rpms, preferably 100 rpms.

[0011] Pursuant to another advantageous specific embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is provided with a container that is rotatable by the drive means, is preferably cylindrical, and is open at one end face, whereby at least one brush is disposed in the container, and a pin can be introduced into the container in such a way that the axis of rotation of the container, and the longitudinal axis of the pin, approximately coincide with one another.

[0012] The drum-like container is preferably disposed in such a way that its axis of rotation is vertical, and the opening that is provided for the introduction of the pin is disposed at the top. The container can then be filled with a wash fluid, such as water with soap, rinsing agent or the like.

[0013] The brushes can be mounted on the walls of the container. It is advantageous to provide a plurality of brushes, preferably three to ten brushes, the bristles of which are always in contact against the pin. Pursuant to one advantageous specific embodiment of the present invention, by adapting the length of the bristles, the brushes have a contour that corresponds to the contour of the pin. In this connection, one makes use of the fact that in conformity with the rules of the game, the pins always have the same size and shape, so that the apparatus can be adapted exactly to the pins.

[0014] The inventive apparatus is particularly advantageously useable for cleaning pins made of polymeric material and having a bore in their base for manufacturing reasons. A rod having a handle can be introduced into this bore, and can be held in position in the bore, preferably by clamping forces. Held in this way, one can initially immerse the head of the pin in the container without having to come into contact with the cleaning fluid and the brushes, and without having parts of the surface of the pin being covered or hidden during the washing.

[0015] Further specific features of the present invention will be described in detail subsequently.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Referring now to the drawings in detail, the apparatus has a cylindrical, upright container or drum 1 that is open at the top. The drum 1 is filled with a cleaning fluid, for example water, which is displaced with a suitable cleaning agent; a pin 2 that is to be cleaned can be introduced into the drum 1. In the customary manner, the pin 2 has a base 24 upon which it can be placed. When the pin 2 is upright, it has a thickened portion, the barrel 21, near the bottom, above which is disposed a narrow neck 22 and thereabove a somewhat thicker head 23.

[0017] Disposed in the brush-like container 1 are brushes 3, which are connected to the wall of the container 1. The brushes 3 are oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container 1, and extend over practically the entire height of the container. In the illustrated embodiment, three such brushes are provided, and are respectively offset relative to one another by 120°. The bristles 3′ of the brushes 3 are oriented essentially toward the center of the container 1. The bristles 3′ have different lengths such that the brushes 3 have a contour that corresponds to the shape of a pin.

[0018] Provided on the bottom of the container 1 is a shaft 4 by means of which the container is supported upon a frame or a housing 5. The shaft 4 can in addition be rotated via a gear arrangement 6 by means of an electric motor 7. To be able to absorb the pitching movement of the container 1, rollers 8 are provided that in the upper region of the container 1 assume the lateral guidance thereof. In a straightforward manner, these rollers 8 can be formed by the outer rings of conventional ball bearings. By providing three of such rollers 8, the container 1 can be supported on all sides. The position of the rollers 8 is indicated in FIG. 2 by the reference numeral 8′.

[0019] The ring 10, which is connected to the housing or frame 5, forms the upper end of the apparatus. The rollers 8 are mounted on the ring 10 via the ball bearings 9. At the top, the ring 10 has a surface 11 that is inclined inwardly at an angle, and also has a drip edge 12 that is drawn into the interior of the container 1 and via which splashed or splattered wash fluid can run back into the container 1.

[0020] The apparatus operates as follows: the container 1 is rotated by the motor 7. A pin 2, with its head facing downwardly, is immersed into the container 1. Since the brushes 3 are moved along with the container 1, they swipe over the surface of the pin 2 in the circumferential direction. By moving the pin up and down, one can additionally apply a movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pin 2. In so doing, the brushes 3 are directed upon the pin 2 from several sides.

[0021] It has been found to be particularly expedient if the bristles 3′ of the brushes 3 have a length that is approximately 2 to 10 mm longer than is necessary for contacting the surface of the pin from all sides. The bristles 3′ then have such a length that the ends thereof rest against the surface of the pin with a certain pressure without being bent away too severely.

[0022] The container 1 and the brushes 3 are higher than the pin 2. In the lowermost portion of the container 1, the bristles 3′ are so long that they nearly contact one another in the center of the container 1. This region has a height of about 100 mm. Adjoining above this region is a region in which the length of the bristles 3′ are adapted to the contour of the pin. In the uppermost region adjoining this latter region the brushes 3 again have the longer bristles 3′. In the upper portion of the container 1, the bristles 3′ additionally have a different color than they do in the remaining regions. In this way, it is possible to indicate a filling height to which the container 1 should be filled with wash fluid.

[0023] In order to immerse the pin 2 into the container 1, a handle 13 is mounted on the base of the pin. For the mounting of a handle 13, one makes use of a bore 14 that is present in the base of plastic or polymeric pins for manufacturing reasons. A shaft 15 of the handle 13 is introduced into this bore 14. The manner in which the shaft 15 is held in position in the bore 14 is not critical for the present invention and is therefore not illustrated in any detail. For example, this can be effected by an easy to establish and again release clamping, such as in the manner of an expanding dowel. Pins, such as wooden pins, that have no bore in the base, can be introduced into the apparatus in some other manner, for example manually.

[0024] The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority document 101 06 102.1 of Feb. 8, 2001.

[0025] The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for cleaning ninepins or bowling pins, comprising: at least one brush, and a drive means for providing relative movement between a pin and said at least one brush in a circumferential direction of said pin.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one brush rotates about said pin, which does not rotate.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one brush rotates with an angular velocity of 50-200 rpms, especially 100 rpms.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a preferably cylindrical container is provided that is rotatable via said drive means and that is open at one end face thereof, wherein said at least one brush is disposed in said container, and wherein said pin is introducible into said container in such a way that an axis of rotation of said container coincides approximately with a longitudinal axis of said pin.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said at least one brush extends in the direction of said axis of rotation of said container, with said at least one brush having a lengthwise dimension that is at least as long as a height of said pin.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said at least one brush has a lengthwise extension that is longer than a height of said pin.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said at least one brush has bristles that are directed essentially to a center of said container, wherein said bristles have a length that varies along said axis of rotation in such a way that said at least one brush has a contour that corresponds to a contour of said pin.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, whereby said contour of said at least one brush has a larger bulge for a barrel of said pin near the top and a lesser dimension for a head of said pin near the bottom of said container.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein three to ten brushes are provided.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said bristles are at least long enough that with a pin that is disposed precisely centrally in said container they just contact a surface of said pin or are 2-10 mm longer than making such contact.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a section of said at least one brush that is disposed between a section corresponding to the contour of said head of said pin, and said base of said container, have long bristles that preferably reach nearly to a central axis of said container.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said bristles, in a portion of said at least one brush that is disposed closest to an introduction opening of said container, are considerably longer than in an adjacent portion that is adapted to the contour of said pin.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said axis of rotation of said container is vertical.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a bottom end of said container is supported by a shaft 4, and wherein an upper end of said container is guided along its edges by rollers.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said rollers are outer rings of ball bearings.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said drive means effects driving of said container via said shaft.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fixed ring is disposed above an upper opening of said container, wherein said ring has an inwardly slanted upper surface, and wherein said ring has a circumferential ridge that projects into said container.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said bristles, up to a level to which said container is to be filled with wash fluid, have a different color than do the remainder of said bristles.
 19. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a handle is securable to said pin.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said handle is insertable into a bore provided in a base of said pin. 